Coking furnace bunker construction

ABSTRACT

A closing valve particularly for bunkers for granulated material such as coal bunkers of coke, furnace charging trucks comprises a transfer funnel having a lower extension carrying a transverse journal which mounts a closing flap. The journal may be rotated with the closing flat for opening and closing the lower end of the funnel be actuating a drive lever which is pivotally connected to a crank arm extension of the journal on the exterior of the funnel. The lever is actuated by a piston and cylinder combination and the closing flap may be switched from an inclined open position to a horizontal closed position. The closing flap advantageously includes a top portion which is oriented upwardly in the closing channel and a bottom portion of smaller dimension, the size being beveled inwardly to the bottom portion.

United States Patent lnventor Josef Stratmann Recklinghausen, Germany Appl. No. 818,699 Filed Apr. 23, 1969 Patented Apr. 27, 1971 Assignee Firma Carl Still Recklinghausen, Germany Priority Nov. 9, 1968 Germany G6,806,246.4

COKING FURNACE BUNKER CONSTRUCTION 4 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 214/35, 222/200, 222/556 Int. Cl 865g 3/12 Field of Search 2l4/17.4, 18 (PH), 35; 222/200, 556

References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,620,946 12/1952 Auer 222/556X Primary Examiner-Robert G. Sheridan Att0rney-McGlew & Toren ABSTRACT: A closing valve particularly for bunkers for granulated material such as coal bunkers of coke, furnace charging trucks comprises a transfer funnel having a lower extension carrying a transverse journal which mounts a closing flap. The journal may be rotated with the closing flat for opening and closing the lower end of the funnel be actuating a drive lever which is pivotally connected to a crank arm extension of the journal on the exterior of the funnel. The lever is actuated by a piston and cylinder combination and the closing flap may be switched from an inclined open position to a horizontal closed position. The closing flap advantageously includes a top portion which is oriented upwardly in the closing channel and a bottom portion of smaller dimension, the size being beveled inwardly to the bottom portion.

PATENTED m2? 197:

sum 1 OF 2 FIG.I

INVENTOR. Josef Sirotmonn ATTORNEYS.

PATENTEDAPRZYIQYI 3.576.264

' sumeurz ATTORNEYS.

COKING FURNACE BUNKER CONSTRUCTION SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates in general to the construction of coking furnace accessories and in particular to a new and useful closing device for the bunkers of coke furnace charging trucks.

Various closing devices are known for controlling the discharge of the granular solids or fine-grained coking coal from bunkers into coking furnaces. For example, plate valves, slide valves and mushroom valves are generally known. During the discharge of material bridges of material are frequently formed in the outlet part of the bunker at a location directly over plate valves. They constrict the free cross section of the outlet and reduce the amount of discharge per minute. In order to prevent the formation of bridges special devices must be provided in the outlet. Rotary slide valves never release the entire cross section of the outlet for the issuance of the material but only about one-half while the other half remains closed, for example, by variously shaped diaphragms. The granular material accumulates above the diaphragrns while it issues through the slide valve openings. The material which is dropped will rub against the accumulated material which offers considerable resistance thereto and thus inhibits the free flow of the material. 1

The arrangement of a rotary slide valve in a bunker outlet is particularly unfavorable when the bunker outlet may not exceed a certain predetermined diameter as for example, in the charging bunkers of coke furnace charging trucks. The outlet diameter of such trucks depends on the diameter of the outer cases of the furnace chambers and they in turn depend on the width of the furnace chambers themselves. The charging material can also form bridges over such valves which form easily and thus measures are taken to remove them.

It is particularly important in the operation of coke furnaces to empty the bunker contents of the charging trucks as rapidly as possible, during the charging of the furnace chambers. Mushroom valves release the entire cross section of the bunker outlet for the issuance of material but even the mushroom valve offers no means of influencing the flow of the material so that the formation of bridges above these slides or valves in the outlet will be prevented. The only possibility resides in preventing the formation of a constant material flow which will enhance the formation of the bridges by periodically narrowing or widening the outlet cross section.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a closing device for bunkers for granular material particularly for coal bunkers or on coke furnace charging trucks which release substantially the cross section of the bunker outlet and which also ensures a solid flow of the outlet above the closing device so that no solid bridges are formed. Such a closing device advantageously includes a flap arranged in the bunker outlet and mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis. The entire cross section of the outlet is only slightly constricted by the vertically opened flap in an open position. The construction has no effect on discharge periods of the material. It is advantageous to provide a flap which will close the bunker completely in the inclined position. In such a way the forces that serve to actuate the flap and which will be loaded by the granular material will be reduced. Such flap may be actuated hydraulically, mechanically, or electrically, or even magnetically if desired.

It was found that compared to the known closing devices that the discharge periods of such flaps are substantially reduced when using a closing device constructed according to the invention. This is particularly true when the flap swings during the evacuation of the bunker over a small swinging amplitude of about its vertical position. For this way the fonnation of a constant flow and a constant flow path in the bunker outlet and thus the .fonnation of bridges is prevented. The discharge periods of coal bunkers of the charging trucks of coke furnaces can thusbe-reduced to one-third by the arrangement of the flap according to the invention when compared to the known rotary slide valves. Such a closing device may advantageously be arranged on the bunker itself or provided on a transfer funnel or extension mounted in the outlet of the bunker.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved closing device which is adapted to be associated with the discharge of a coke bunker and which includes a transverse mounting axle disposed in the discharge, and a flap carried by said axle, and means for shifting said axle in said flap for facilitating the discharge of the material therethrough.

A further object of the invention is to provide a closure device for a bunker which includes a flap mounted across the entire discharge opening and being pivotal about a horizontal axis, said flap having inwardly and downwardly beveled side edges in respect to a closing position of the valve when it is substantially horizontal. A further object of the invention is to provide'a device for closing the lower end of a bunker of a coke furnace charging truck which is simple in design, rugged in construction, and economical to manufacture. I

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a transfer funnel of a coal bunker of a coke furnace charging truck constructed in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a section taken along the line ll-II of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings in particular the invention embodied therein comprises a transfer funnel generally designated 1 having a lower extension 50 which terminates in a conical sealing ring 2 which is adapted to be positioned in a case frame of a furnace chamber. The funnel carries an inspection opening which is closed by an inspection plate 3 having a handle 4. The funnel l is supported on side arms or brackets 7 which are held between vertical support 8, 8, the arms 7 and the support 8 also provide a mounting for a fluidactuating cylinder 20 in conjunction with a plate 6 which is secured to the sidewall by bolts 5. The cylinder 21 is also supported between cross supports 24 and 25 in a vertical support 22 and 23.

In accordance with the invention the lower extension 50 carries exterior journals l4 and 15 which rotatably receive axles or journals l2 and 13 which are rotatable therein and which carry a square central axle 11. A closure flap or plate valve 9 is secured to the square axle portion 11 for rotation therewith and it includes a downwardly extending reinforcing rib 10 as shownin the horizontal position of FIG. 1. A crank arm lever 16 is secured to the shaft 13 and it is pivoted at 17 to a transmission bar or driving lever 18. The transmission bar 18 is connected to a fork 19 and piston rod 20. The piston rod 20 is moved under the control of fluid pressure in a fluid cylinder 21. By moving the piston the flap 9 is opened and closed and moved periodically about its vertical position within an oscillatable range of movement about either side of the vertical centerline in order to accelerate the discharge of the material from the bunker.

lclaim:

1. A closure device for a transfer chute or funnel of a coke furnace charging truck comprising wall means defining a discharge for the granular material, a shaft extending across said discharge, means rotatably supporting said shaft, a plate valve carried on said shaft and being rotatable therewith between a substantially horizontal position at which it closes the passage through said discharge and a vertical position at which the passage is open to its greatest extent, a fluid-pressureoperated piston and cylinder combination connected to said shaft, and means for operating said fluidpressureoperated piston and cylinder combination to cause it to engage and oscillate said shaft a few degrees on each side of the vertical during the opening of the device for the rapid discharge of the material therefrom.

2. A closure device, according to claim 1, wherein said flap closes the discharge when it is in a substantially horizontal position.

3. A closure device, according to claim 1, wherein said wall means defining a discharge for granular material includes a transfer funnel, an extension piece adjacent the lower end of said transfer funnel and having a substantially funnel-shaped passage therethrough, said shaft being, mounted across said transfer piece.

4. A closure device, according to claim 3, including means for reinforcing said flap. 

1. A closure device for a transfer chute or funnel of a coke furnace charging truck comprising wall means defining a discharge for the granular material, a shaft extending across said discharge, means rotatably supporting said shaft, a plate valve carried on said shaft and being rotatable therewith between a substantially horizontal position at which it closes the passage through said discharge and a vertical position at which the passage is open to its greatest extent, a fluid-pressure-operated piston and cylinder combination connected to said shaft, and means for operating said fluid-pressure-operated piston and cylinder combination to cause it to engage and oscillate said shaft a few degrees on each side of the vertical during the opening of the device for the rapid discharge of the material therefrom.
 2. A closure device, according to claim 1, wherein said flap closes the discharge when it is in a substantially horizontal position.
 3. A closure device, according to claim 1, wherein said wall means defining a discharge for granular material includes a transfer funnel, an extension piece adjacent the lower end of said transfer funnel and having a substantially funnel-shaped passage therethrough, said shaft being mounted across said transfer piece.
 4. A closure device, according to claim 3, including means for reinforcing said flap. 